B3025 - Using genetics to understand interactions between CHD risk factors and physical activity / sleep - 27/03/2018

B number: 
B3025
Principal applicant name: 
Andrew Wood | Genetics of Complex Traits (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Professor Tim Frayling, Professor Mike Weedon, Dr Vincent van Hees, Professor Melvyn Hillsdon
Title of project: 
Using genetics to understand interactions between CHD risk factors and physical activity / sleep
Proposal summary: 

We would like to apply for funding to obtain objective measures of physical activity and sleep in the ALSPAC CO90s cohort. A large proportion of CO90s underwent studies of their activity when they agreed to wear a waist accelerometer at the age of 11 and several time points throughout their teenage years. We believe it would be a unique and extremely powerful resource to have objective measures of activity in the same individuals in early adulthood in addition to their earlier measures. We would propose to use a more sophisticated accelerometer device - a wrist worn device that does not need to be removed when washing or sleeping and that has been worn for 2 consecutive weeks with high compliance. We intend to apply for full funding to support the collection of activity data from the C090s, including admin support, devices and data curation. If funded, this would need to occur during late 2018 - 2020. The data would be owned by ALSPAC and made available to all. Our specific interest is around the effects of genes and activity on obesity. The specific research question is to provide an advance in the understanding of whether or not genes and activity measures interact to predispose some people to modifiable CHD risk factors including obesity.

Impact of research: 
The availability of objective measures of activity from age 11 to early adulthood (mid to late 20s) would be very powerful resource. The activity data would of course belong to ALSPAC and be available to all researchers. Given the importance of activity in maintaining a normal weight in today's obesogenic environment, we anticipate that the impact could be very high.
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 18 December, 2017
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 19 December, 2017
Keywords: 
Genetics, Obesity, BMI, Cardiovascular, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Genetics - e.g. epigenetics, mendelian randomisation, UK10K, sequencing, etc., Methods - e.g. cross cohort analysis, data mining, mendelian randomisation, etc., Physical - activity, fitness, function, Sleep